Kyrie Irving Is Now Missing Home Games Thanks to Vax Status

Picture: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Kyrie Irving, the mercurial Brooklyn Nets star whose stance on vaccines has become a headache for his group and the NBA, was declared ineligible to play in a preseason sport on Friday. His absence strongly suggests what had appeared extremely possible: that Irving has not been vaccinated.

Beneath New York state legislation, Irving should get his pictures with a view to follow with the group, and to play house video games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Heart. He already missed a follow on Tuesday.

Irving has by no means outright stated he’s anti-vaccine, as a substitute asking for “privacy” when reporters inquire about his standing. He’s a part of a comparatively small, however influential, vaccine-skeptical or vaccine-resistant cohort within the NBA.

The Nets have been holding out hope that Irving will nonetheless get his pictures — fellow star Kevin Durant said on Wednesday that  “I’m envisioning Kyrie being part of our group” — however it’s unclear what is going to occur if he doesn’t. Irving may find yourself taking part in solely highway video games, or could be benched altogether — both of which might be a serious blow to the group’s championship goals.